The Oyo State Government has issued a strong warning to residents against indiscriminate waste disposal and illegal construction on waterways as it commenced a major 10 day environmental clean-up and sensitisation operation along the 12.5 kilometre Theophilus Akinyele Way in Ibadan.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Engineer. Ademola Aderinto, gave the warning at the flag-off of the exercise in Kuola, cautioning residents against bush burning, burning of refuse, dumping waste in drainages, placing construction materials on roads and erecting structures on waterways.
He stressed that such practices endanger public health, destroy government infrastructure and contribute significantly to flooding across the state.
Aderinto disclosed that enforcement actions have already commenced, with some illegal structures sealed pending verification of building permits. He warned that violators risk arrest and prosecution, revealing that security agencies, including the Amotekun Corps, Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have been integrated into the Oyo Soro-Soke-Sita whistleblower platform to track and prosecute environmental offenders.
The clean-up exercise is a collaboration between the state government and the family of the late Theophilus Adeleke Akinyele, in whose honour the road was named.
The initiative commemorates his 94th posthumous birthday and aligns with activities marking the 50th anniversary of the creation of Oyo State, underscoring its historic and civic importance.
Aderinto noted that the late Akinyele served as Secretary to the Military Government and Head of Service of Oyo State between 1976 and 1979, playing a foundational role in shaping the early governance structure of the state.
He described the partnership as a model of responsible public-private collaboration, reiterating that environmental protection is a shared responsibility between government and citizens.
According to him, the 10 day operation will involve desilting drainage channels, clearing medians and road surfaces, removing accumulated waste, deploying mechanical equipment and manual labour, and washing the entire roadway to restore it to acceptable standards.
The Akinyele family provided both locally and internationally sourced equipment as well as manpower to support the intervention.
The initiative, he said, is aimed at rehabilitating and sanitising the road corridor and adjoining drainage systems, promoting compliance with proper waste management practices, encouraging residents to patronise government-accredited waste collectors and strengthening enforcement against environmental violations.
Leading the family’s delegation, Mr. Akinkunmi Akinyele described the exercise as a living tribute to their father’s legacy of discipline, order and excellence in public service.
The government urged residents to support the clean up drive by maintaining proper sanitation practices and reporting environmental infractions to ensure a cleaner, healthier and flood-free Oyo State.
